[chette777]

1Corithians 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

Could the ordinances Paul is referring to here be the letter he and Barnabas were sent to deliver to each of the Gentile churches in Acts 15. Paul and Jesus never refer to the Lord's Table and Baptism as ordinances in the word of God.

Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Webster's Dictionary meaning of Ordinance states: 2. A rule established by authority; a permanent rule of action; a statute, law, regulation, rescript, or accepted usage; an edict or decree; esp., a local law enacted by a municipal government; as, a municipal ordinance.

So "decrees for to keep" indicate some form of ordinance that was to be kept Acts 21:25 supports this as does the original counsel meeting in Acts 15

Acts 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

and for after 1Cor11:2 Paul goes into talking about prayer. Baptism never comes into view in this chapter and later the remarks, 1Co 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, would be something Paul privately got from the Lord during his time in Damascus and Arabia. would indicate the ordinances of Verse 2 was the letter from the Jerusalem counsel. for if chapter 11 is progressive in Paul's thinking he first clarifies Prayer by whom and how, then the coming together for the Lord's tables, then details on How the Lord told Paul about the Lord's table and how it is to be observed.

Now never anywhere in Paul's writing s does he give what we call the ordinance of Baptism or clarify at any times that Doctrine of Baptism by water immersion. this is no indication that it wasn't practiced or observed. but the Lord Table and water Baptism is connected with the term ordinances. and the term delivered would be a weak basis to establish an doctrine of ordinances. for Paul delivered the letter from the Jerusalem counsel, he delivered money to the Jerusalem saints, he delivered some unto Satan.

How is it we have come to call Baptism and the Lord's table Ordinances when in the Bible they are never called ordinances?

So I have some to the conclusion Verse 2 is pointing to the letter from the Jerusalem counsel and not referring to the Lord's Table and Baptism as we have come to call them ordinances.

[Biblestudent]

Bro. Chette,
1. The Lord's Supper is in the context of the "ordinances" (1 Corinthians 11:2).
2. The "decrees" of Acts 16:4 and Acts 15:20 were of James and the rest of the Twelve. They were not what Paul said to be "the ordinances AS I DELIVERED UNTO YOU".
There are many "ordinances" in the Bible (including Col. 2:14-16), but Paul is talking about the ordinances that he (PAUL) delivered for the church to observe.
3. An "ordinance", as defined in Exodus (in chapter 12, for example) and other OT passages, is an "order", "a memorial", and a "service". Paul reminds the church to observe those ordinances - memorial services that he ordered to be kept - that he received from the Lord to be delivered by him to the church in this age.
4. Since he did give an "order" to keep the Lord's supper in the same chapter he mentions "ordinances" (1 Cor. 11:2), then the Lord's supper is one of those ordinances. Since it is plural ("ordinancES"), then it must be at least two. If one is Lord's supper, what's the other one?

[chette777]

Lets take Chapter 11 and look at it verse by verse.

vs1 instruction to follow him as he does Christ
vs2 He praises them for remembering him (not Jesus) and keeping the ordinances he delivered unto them (I believe it was the letter to abstain from blood, strangled animals, things offered to idol and fornication. and according to your understanding he is speaking of the Lord's supper which he does not take up until verse17)
Vv3-16 Paul speaks of Authority of the head and shamefulness if a woman prophecies or prays with uncovered head or a man does so covered. (if I follow you logic of uniting vs 2 to vs 17 and beyond. then this is the first ordinance the ordinance of proper prophecy and prayer)
Vv 17-22 speak if the divisions in the fellowship and impropriety of coming together for the Lord's Supper the bread and the cup.
Vv23-26 Paul establishes when and where he received and delivered unto them and he then narrates what it was he had received the info of the Upper room the last night he was alive. and that this supper was to be done in remembrance..
Vv27-34 Paul also continues to show the improper attitude towards other in the body and that each man judge himself then take and eat. and that it should all be done at once as one body.

Why do we make Baptism one of the two when Paul never, as he does the Lord's Table, make mention of Baptism as something he delivered unto them?

plus vs 23 is a totally different delivery than that mentioned in vs 2. other wise he did not need to mention it again.

The Gospels upper room discourses
Matt 26 gives no instruction to do
Mark 14 gives no instruction to do
Luke 22 says this do in remembrance of me as does Paul, it is obvious it is a memorial.

But vs 23 makes the fact that Paul is not referring to verse 2 for they are two different deliver unto you statements. we have made it say that is is the Lord's Table without any regards to what was delivered by the hand of Paul to every Gentile church that he visited. which was just as inspired by God than any other word of the scriptures.

Many Christians are not following the four decrees set forth by the Jerusalem counsel and why is that? are churches are full of people committing sexual immorality, being members of secret societies drinking blood (even symbolic form) here in the Philippines Dugoan(SP? Blood) dish is eaten by Christians, Animal are sold at the store that have not had their blood removed yet we buy it without question.

I am not saying Paul didn't receive or deliver the Lord's supper he says so in Vs23-26. but Verse two seems to be more inline with another set of ordinances Plural. but 1Cor 11:23 only covers an ordinance of the Lord's Supper (that is what we call it though it is never called that by Paul or Jesus). The only plural ordinances we have record of Paul every delivering to the churches including Corinth is the Letter from Jerusalem.

The first use of the word Ordinance in context of Exodus 12:14 is in line with the word Statute. the Hebrew word chuqqah, khook-kaw' never means "remembrance, service or memorial" it does mean appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute the same as our English word

Sonny you did however do a great job in defending a long standing traditional teaching that the Lord's Supper is an ordinance.

Ac 15:22 ¶ Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Just so you don't think they were limited in their deleivery they went beyond antioch Syria and Cilicia to Derbe and Lystra and chapter 21 says the Gentiles meaning all gentile believers and they delievered these decreees when they "went through the cities"

Ac 16:1 ¶ Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.

Ac 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

[Biblestudent]

Brother, here's what I see:

1 Corinthians 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

1. By context, in the same chapter, it seems that it would be a stretch to make 1 Corinthians 11:2 to refer to Acts 15:20. The nearer context to 1 Corinthians 11:2 is 1 Corinthians 11:23.

2. We can also notice the parallelism between the two verses:

1 Corinthians 11:2...keep the ordinances, AS I DELIVERED THEM TO YOU
1 Corinthians 11:23 FOR I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD THAT WHICH ALSO I DELIVERED UNTO YOU, That the Lord Jesus ...took bread


3. Not only that, in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul is talking about the ordinances which he RECEIVED OF THE LORD and that which he himself DELIVERED to the church.

The Acts 15 letters were received from the Jewish apostles, and it was not delivered BY Paul but BY the Twelve through Paul.

4. The context can not be ignored. Concerning Acts 21 and Acts 15, it's very important to note WHO is speaking.

Acts 21:25 writings were NOT the ordinances received by Paul from the Lord. They were were "written" especially by James and all the elders present who said "we have written and concluded that the Gentiles observe certain things".

Acts 21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him,...
25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.

Acts 15:13, 19, 20 make it clear that its James who made this "sentence" with his Jewish "brethren".

Acts 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

These were written to the Gentiles, but, this were not the "ordinances" which Paul "received of the Lord" and "delivered" to the church.

Furthermore, Matthew 26 Lord's Supper was delivered by Jesus TO THE TWELVE and will be observed by Kingdom believers AS THE TWELVE DELIVERED IT TO THEM.

Paul is emphasizing in 1 Corinthians 11 that the ORDINANCES that he RECEIVED OF THE LORD (by the direct revelation, and not after men) and DELIVERED TO THE CHURCH are to be observed AS HE (PAUL) DELIVERED IT, and not as Christ (before the cross) or the Twelve delivered it.

5. Also, Acts 15 and Acts 21 mentions no "ORDINANCE" whatsoever.

[Biblestudent]

Brother Chette,
I just use the term "Lord's Supper" for ease of reference.
Aslo, I "swordsearched" (credits to Brother Brandon) the term "Water Baptism" and here is the result that I got:

"Sorry, no matching verses found (KJV)."

[Biblestudent]

Originally Posted by chette777

Many Christians are not following the four decrees set forth by the Jerusalem counsel and why is that? are churches are full of people committing sexual immorality, being members of secret societies drinking blood (even symbolic form) here in the Philippines Dugoan(SP? Blood) dish is eaten by Christians, Animal are sold at the store that have not had their blood removed yet we buy it without question.

Fornication - Paul gave specific instructions: "Abstain", etc.
Idolatry - Paul gave specific instructions: "Flee", etc.
Blood - Paul's command: ______________
Things Strangled - Paul's command: _______________

Paul was silent, but he DID GIVE INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING FOOD:

1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

So I don't eat dinugoan, not because James (or Noah or Moses) told me not to eat blood, but because Paul told me this:

Romans 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

But concerning blood and things strangled, I say this with Paul:

Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

[chette777]

thanks Sammy very interesting info you gave.

[JOHN G]

1Cor. 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

The Lord Jesus was baptized.
Matt 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized…

Paul was baptized
Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

The disciples baptized people
John 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

Many were baptized on Pentecost
Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Samaritans were baptized
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

The Ethiopian eunuch was baptized
Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Lydia and her household were baptized
Acts 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household…..

The Philippian jailer and his household were baptized
Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Crispus and many Corinthians were baptized
Act 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

About 12 disciples at Ephesus were baptized
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas were baptized by Paul personally
1Cor 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Cor 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1Cor. 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas:


1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.


Christians don't have to do anything, except believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians should do many things in obedience to God's Word.

Off to Carowinds......
Have a great day ya'll.

John G
Thanks for the post. Well said!

[chette777]

You can say it any way you like. Only the Lords Table is connected to Ordinances.

Never is the term ordinance, Decree for to keep, mentioned any where within 20 verses any direction to water baptism in the writings of Paul, who is the Apostle to the Gentiles.

So How did we get to the point of having two ordinances one of which is never mentioned to be one and forsake the four "decree for to keep" given to the Gentile converts and was delivered by the hand of Paul to "every city" where he planted churches?